As most of you know, I participated in the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Walk/Run in Mason City, IA. This is a nation wide event, and Mason City was the only location in Iowa. It was good! Just our team raised about $1,100 which is awesome! I have not heard state totals or national totals yet, but I’m guessing they should do pretty good.

I never imagined that we would get the amount that we did. Tracey, myself, and Ellie thank all those who donated!

As for the run, I did the 5k run, which was 2 miles. It was like 10 F out and snowing and windy and it had just snowed like 4 inches and the roads were icy. Here is what I learned by just running two miles.
(1) Being somewhat in bicycle shape does not equal running shape.
(2) Running on a tredmill is not the same as running outside.
(3) I’m currently not built for running.
(4) Running outside in Iowa in December is not fun.

The rest of my team did the 2 mile walk, which was in the SouthBridge mall in Mason City.. Which sounded pretty good about 20 feet after I started running.

It was totally worth it, though and it was for a great cause. Arthritis research is sadly underfunded, compared to the amount of people it effects.

The perceptions about arthritis vary, but the numbers don’t lie:
Arthritis is the nation’s number one cause of disability
70 million Americans have arthritis and chronic joint symptoms
300,000 people with arthritis are children
Arthritis costs the US economy nearly $86.2 billion annually in lost wages
There are more than 100 forms of arthritis

Here is myself and Ellie after. (She wasn’t stinky and sweaty like daddy was.) She didn’t want to sit still for the picture.

We finally got her to pose and not make a goofy face!

Again, thanks for all who donated!! You are all awesome!

The Dorfster